How I journal my menstrual cycle

And our next guided journaling event

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I am pre-menstrual today. I am telling you this incase the force with which I am typing at my computer shows through in my writing. A few too many bolded words, perhaps. You know the type of thing.

Over the last three or four years I have tracked my menstrual cycle in a journal by my bed, so I am far better acquainted nowadays with my hormonal shifts (thank you Period Power by Maisie Hill, and others). Which is great. I’m no longer confused by the days when my energy suddenly wanes or surprised by my period starting, like I was in my twenties.

Don’t get me wrong, I still have months where I have to create the old ‘toilet paper pad’ (ahh, never stops being fun to relocate one of those entirely inadequate items from wherever it has travelled - which in my experience is anywhere except where you left it). I still have these months, not because I don’t know my period is due, but because I am too busy sorting out someone’s lost reading book or the like, meaning I forget to dig out my period pants from the washing pile armageddon. Or some kid has been using my period cup as a bath toy.

But I do now at least recognise and acknowledge my hormones, meaning that I can tap into the times of the month when I am churning out the ideas and also account for my days of rage. At times I’ll even manage to apologise for these (through gritted teeth).

“SORRY. MY PERIOD IS DUE. BUT I WILL STILL KILL YOU IF YOU DON’T HANG THAT TEA TOWEL BACK UP. FYI.”

However, although I can now hear the voice in my head saying, “you don’t need to find a divorce lawyer because this will pass in a few days,” I still struggle not to shout back, “you think I don’t know that? Don’t patronise me. You think this is bad? I am only just getting started…”

I swear the rage is getting worse the older I get. Does it? Is this perimenopause? I know I have a whole load of reading up on that to do. Maisie Hill has a second book called Perimenopause Power - anyone read it? I now have certain days which are like some sort of horror show. Or maybe my tolerance levels are changing. Maybe I’m just generally feeling more livid about everything women have to put up with?!

Anyhow, I thought I’d share how I personally use my journal to track and ‘work with’ my menstrual cycle. This is my current routine. It is still very much an ongoing learning curve for me. I find it fascinating.

• I don’t use an app to track my periods because I’ve always just used my diary by my bed, which I write in every night. Only for a few minutes (I also log gratitude and sometimes any wins from the day). I tried a few apps but they didn’t quite capture what I wanted to log. I know some people swear by them. And it does make it easier to get an overall picture I think?

  But for me, I like to write about my cycle yes, but I am also trying to stay in touch with my body overall, my physical and mental health (some apps do this I think? Please do feel free to recommend any in the comments for others…)

  I’ll write a few words at the top of the page, maybe a sentence. Things like, “bloated, distracted, could eat a small horse”. Or, “I felt tired today, probably due to no sleep last night though, definitely need an early night tomorrow”. I just try and stay curious, “really creative today, got loads done, being with xxx was great”.

  So, I do have an idea of what comes where within my cycle, the seasons and so on. But I am also just day by day experiencing what I experience. Because even though there are definitely patterns, and there is SO much to learn from them, I don’t want to ‘expect’ to be depleted, for example, I want to be open to anything. And practise self-compassion. Always.

  But saying that, I’ll definitely spot reoccurring themes that are worthy of a little more exploration. Themes that might not be purely physical symptoms. Although they might. And I do then try to look after myself. For example, I know that I always struggle to run right before my period arrives, so I’ll do other exercise instead. I suppose I do a sort of written version of a meditative body scan, just doing a little check in with myself. And my cycle, of course, plays a part in that.

• I find a ‘free-writing’ session (i.e when I write without any prompts or structure, just let the words fall out on the page in a stream of consciousness) is great for seeing through my anger when I am pre-menstrual.

  I feel so much better when I have vented for four pages of A4. The page is far less likely to hold a grudge or require an apology. “and, and, and” I’ll write. Even if none of it is true (often the case when I am pre-menstrual) just releasing all the feelings gives me space to breath. And just the act of sitting down with a cup of tea and a notebook is sometimes enough. You know? Just to notice how you are feeling. I’ll then rip up the pages and chuck them away.

• There are certain times in the month when I get a really foggy head. I am unbelievably easily distracted and can’t find any focus (did I say some* times of the month?!)

  I’m lucky that I work for myself, so can be flexible and mix up my schedule a bit when I feel this happening. But I also know that on these days, when I’ve got work I need to get through, journaling my priorities and writing myself a VERY clear list of actions for the day first thing in my notebook (sometimes with times attached) is helpful. “If you only get one thing done today what should it be?” Answering these sorts of questions in my journal is essential for me on foggy days.

I am no expert on menstrual cycles, but I feel like just doing these few simple things has made a difference. There are some great books and people out there nowadays sharing much-needed advice and guidance. If you have any favourites please do pop them below. It makes me really relieved that this is becoming an ever-more open topic of conversation. I hope that my daughters (and sons) grow up understanding far more about their bodies and how to harness and work with their energies than I ever did.

I’d love to hear from you. Do you track your cycle? Do you do any journaling around it? Are you also feeling frustratingly late to the party - I feel like it’s only been in recent years that I have finally started to understand this huge part of my life that has been happening ever since I was twelve (grrr). Let me know,

Hels (Nelly) x

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In other unrelated news:

• We have our next guided journaling session tomorrow night (Wednesday 19th July, 8.15pm). This one is a bit more of a fluid writing/sharing session, something lovely to ease us into the school summer holidays. I’ll be reading some poems, other people will be reading some beautiful words, we’ll have a few writing prompts that we can use to leave the stresses of childcare arranging/holiday packing/trip organising behind for a moment. I’d love to see you there - the link is below to upgrade to paid membership where you’ll find all the details.

• I am about to listen to this podcast - 28ish Days Later - for a second time because it was a while ago that I first heard it. I’m talking to my eldest about periods a lot at the moment and need to get my facts right, ha. I’ve probably mentioned this one before. So good.

• I’ll leave you with this beaut of a passage I found on Instagram this week from poet and writer Kim Rashidi (also on Instagram )

  

  I hope you enjoy a week filled with whatever wanderings fill your soul,

  Hels (Nelly) x